BUILDING work is set to start on a five-year plan to bring between 50 and 80 homes to the north of Taunton.

Summerfield Developments say diggers will move into the 1.2-hectare site near Taunton Academy in Cheddon Road in September as part of the build’s first phase.

Phase one will see 26 homes built, including eight two-bedroom homes, ten three-bedroom homes, six low-cost homes for first-time buyers and two flats.

Two further phases of work are then expected to take place with the second bringing around 18 homes and the third seeing 27 homes built, subject to change.

The approved development site comprises of part of two grassland fields, and it forms a small valley between Pyrland Hall Farm, to the north, and the former Ladymead Community School and Wellsprings Leisure Centre to the south.

Developers say the site will provide an attractive development and will contribute to Taunton’s affordable housing requirements.

Chris Winter, of Summerfield, said: “Work’s going to start soon and the homes are going to be fairly traditional in their design, so it shouldn’t offend anyone.”

Work on phase one is expected to take a year with homes available from early summer, 2014.